The Bava Box Set, Vol. 2The Bava Box Set, Vol. 2

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MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

    Though he would be forever hailed as The King Of Italian Horror, director Mario Bava brought his stunning visual style to virtually every genre of international cinema. In these seven movies from the latter half of his legendary career, Il Maestro turned his extraordinary eye to extreme gothic terror, mod murder mystery, spaghetti western satire, a sex comedy inspired by Rashomon, the gore shocker that single-handedly created the `body-count' craze, and two distinctly different versions of his surreal macabre classic. Each disc has been transferred from original European vault elements to complete the definitive celebration of one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. Includes Baron Blood, Four Times That Night, Lisa & The Devil, 5 Dolls For An August Moon, Roy Colt & Winchester, Kidnapped, Bay Of Blood and House Of Exorcism.

DVD FEATURES:
  • Region: 1
  • Number of Discs: 6
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
  • Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
  • Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
REVIEWS:
  • Easily the most nihilistic of Mario Bava's films, Rabid Dogs may also have one of the most interesting histories of his cinematic library. Left unfinished after the main investor died in a tragic car accident, literally freezing the funding needed to complete the film, Rabid Dogs was long thought lost - never to be seen in completed form. The film resurfaced in 1998, making its world premiere on DVD after a small Italian production company raised the needed funds to complete post-production. A marked departure from Bava's usual body of work, Rabid Dogs takes place entirely in broad daylight, trading the rich primary hues and slick visualization that usually distinguish his work for harsh natural lighting and stark compositions. It's been said that Rabid Dogs represents Bava's view of the world as a cold and cruel place, offering an interesting perspective on why he immersed himself entirely into a form of art through which he could escape the realities of everyday life. The plot, which involves a trio of criminals who, after a botched robbery take hostages and hit the road in a speeding car, creates a claustrophobic and pounding tension that conveys a feeling of constant impending dread in a volatile situation. Through a series of plot twists and unexpected events, the viewer's sympathies are shifted time and again, straight into the final unexpected frame of the film. Bava's hand in manipulating the viewer's emotions proves sure to the brutally bitter end, leaving his audience vulnerable for the final ironic twist that serves as a jet-black slap in the face to anyone who may have expected a comforting resolution. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  • Not one of director Mario Bava's better films (he did it as a strictly work-for-hire basis and had next to no input on the screenplay), Five Dolls for an August Moon is a confusing and not terribly exciting whodunit. But, despite his fairly limited involvement in the film, Bava nonetheless does manage to provide some real visual interest to what is otherwise a routine, unexceptional little flick. The opening four or five minutes, for example, allow Bava to have a great deal of fun focusing on the characters. This sequence is supposed to introduce and differentiate the players in this tale, but Bava, perhaps realizing that they are so poorly written that they are practically interchangeable, concentrates instead on having visual fun with the way in which they are introduced. In addition, Bava's moves his camera throughout with the grace and fluidity that one expects of him, allowing for long and languid takes that suddenly erupt in a frenzy of camera movements. Bava's decision to keep most of the murders off-screen is not as successful; presumably, this is both to make the film "different" and to allow him to focus on how the deaths affect the other characters, but the former is self-serving and the latter ineffective (due to the lack of character depth in the film). The incredible 1960s set designs and fashions are also noteworthy. But despite all this, the mundane, run-of-the-mill story and the only-adequate cast keep Dolls from being anything but a mediocre movie. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi
  • Though this horror film from Mario Bava is not considered one of his best, it is one of his most notorious. When original screenings failed to sell the picture, producer Alfred Leone decided to have Bava shoot additional footage and re-cut the picture. The result -- an attempt to capitalize on the success of The Exorcist -- was titled The House of Exorcism and released in the U.S. in 1975. Bava's original cut is confusing at times, but it is far better than the "possession" theme that was oddly spliced into House. Elke Sommer is solid as the tormented Lisa while co-star Alessio Orano plays Max as a demented mama's boy -- an interesting twist considering the role was originally offered to and turned down by Psycho star Anthony Perkins. The real highlight of the performances is Telly Savalas as the jovial, lollipop-sucking butler. The late Kojak star plays this devilish servant with a darkly comic glee that few actors could have brought to such a part. His finest sequence finds him breaking the legs of a corpse while trying to squeeze it into a too-small coffin while singing "Say It With Flowers." As with every Bava film, his visuals deserve the highest praise. Lisa's frightened walk through the city's dark streets in the beginning is particularly noteworthy. In every shot, Sommer is framed by the stunning architecture making a scene that is simultaneously scary and beautiful. ~ Patrick Legare, Rovi

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